Apparatus for Evacuation of Root Canal

ABSTRACT

In an endodontic procedure, after the working of a root canal by instruments to remove material and shape the walls of the canal, irrigant is supplied via a microcannula. A vacuum is applied via a tube which is inserted partway down the root canal. The tube and microcannula pass through a material created by a standard dental filling material of a composite nature which provides a seal at a position near the top of the coronal opening. The irrigant is supplied in a manner sufficient to ensure delivery to a side vent of the microcannula. The vacuum at the end of tube draws the irrigant and debris up from the apex of the root canal into the tube. The side vent may have a plurality of more round holes, a diagonal slit, or a U shaped slit, or any other shape. The vent opening should not extend more than approximately 0.75 mm from the closed spherical tip of the microcannula, it must be burr free and the opening must be smaller than the internal diameter of the microcannula.

The present application is a non-provisional application claiming thebenefit of the priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60/579,915filed Jun. 14, 2004 and is a-continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 10/387,804 filed Mar. 13, 2003.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of endodontics, more particularly methodsand apparatus used during root canal procedures.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To preserve a tooth that has or could develop a diseased pulp cavity, itis necessary to prevent bacterial proliferation within the root or pulpcanal of the tooth by enlarging the canal without excessively weakeningthe root's wall by using endodontic files, bores, reamers or otherinstrumentation in order to: 1) mechanically remove as much of the rootcanal contents as is possible and 2) allow the introduction of irrigantsinto the root canal space that dissolve and disinfect organic debris,thus minimizing the presence of bacteria, as well as clearing the wallsof the root canal of calcific debris created during instrumentation.After completing steps 1 and 2, the root canal is typically filled orobturated with a material such as gutta-percha and a sealer to occludethe pulp cavity and thus seal the root canal. This procedure is referredto as root canal therapy. Irrigation assists in removing debris andnecrotic material remaining after the endodontic files, bores, andreamers used during the removing and shaping steps of the procedure.Although, the irrigant preferably is capable of dissolving or disruptingsoft tissue remnants to permit their removal, the irrigant may be anysuitable liquid such as water or various alcohols. More particularly,although some degree of debridement is preferred, any fluid may be usedto flush debris from the root canal. General examples of appropriateirrigants include hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. In order toensure that as much of the debris and necrotic material as possible isremoved, the irrigant is typically applied under pressure using asyringe and a needle inserted into the canal as shown in FIG. 2.However, as reported in Endodontics, 5^(th) Edition, by John I Ingle andLeif K Bakland published June 2002, pages 502-503, it is important thatthe needle fit loosely in the canal to allow backflow. It is alsoreported that there is little flushing beyond the depth of the needleunless the needle is bound in the canal and the irrigant forciblyejected which is undesirable due to the danger of an irrigant such assodium hypochlorite breaching the apex of the canal and entering theperiapical tissue. However, unless the end of the needle is near theapex, the portion of the canal from the apex to the end of the needlecannot be effectively irrigated. But placing the end of the needle nearthe apex increases the likelihood of the irrigant, which is appliedunder pressure, entering the periapical tissue. This can be a source ofpost treatment endodontic pain for the patient. Furthermore, if asignificant quantity of an irrigant like sodium hypochlorite isaccidentally injected into the periapical tissue, morbid clinicalcomplication can occur including excruciating pain, immediate swelling(ballooning) of the tissue and profuse bleeding.

Existing techniques attempt to address this problem by using very smallneedles to get close to the apex while still fitting loosely in thecanal to allow backflow or using an instrument to move some of theirrigant towards the apex with the irrigant no longer under pressure.However, neither technique completely solves the problem. Even the tipof the smallest needles that deliver irrigants under pressure must bekept a safe distance (approximately 4-6 mm) away from the apex in orderto avoid accidentally forcing irrigants into the periapical tissue. Thissafety issue most often results in an area or zone between the apex andneedle tip devoid of irrigant. Use of an instrument to force theirrigant through this zone towards the apex is very time consuming andalso does not guarantee that the irrigant has flushed the canal all theway to the apex without going too far.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the prior art problems of inadequatedelivery of the irrigant to the apex of the canal resulting in anincomplete cleaning of the canal and penetration of the irrigant pastthe apex into the periapical tissue resulting in treatmentcomplications. According to the invention, after the working of thecanal by instruments to remove material and shape the walls of thecanal, a cannula is inserted into the canal extending to about 5 mm fromthe apex and a vacuum is applied which begins to suck up the debrisinside the canal. As this vacuum is applied, a small tube used todeliver irrigant is placed just inside the coronal opening of the rootcanal. Irrigant is passively flowed into the opening of the root canal,but not under pressure. As the irrigant is supplied, it is drawn to thesource of the vacuum causing it to cascade down the walls of the rootcanals, into the tip of the cannula and out through the vacuum system.After several minutes of irrigant cascading down the canal walls, thecannula is removed and a second, smaller cannula with a hole in its wallnear the tip is inserted into the canal until it virtually touches theapical tissue, but unlike the prior art, extending it past the apex doesnot cause irrigant to enter the periapical tissue because as soon as thehole enters the periapical tissue, since it is no longer in an openspace, the vacuum created by the cannula is not present. In an alternateembodiment, instead of delivering irrigant via the cannula and applyinga vacuum to the microcannula, the irrigant may be supplied via themicrocannula. In this embodiment, a vacuum is applied via a tube whichis inserted partway down the root canal. Tube and microcannula passthrough a material created by a standard dental filling material of acomposite nature which provides a seal at a position near the top of thecoronal opening. The irrigant is supplied in a manner sufficient toensure delivery to the side vent of the microcannula. The vacuum at theend of tube draws the irrigant and debris up from the apex of the rootcanal into the tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cut away side view of a tooth showing its root canal andperiapical tissue.

FIG. 2 shows a prior art endodontic irrigation system.

FIG. 3 a is a cut away side view of a tooth showing a first cannula andfluid delivery tube.

FIG. 3 b is an expanded view taken along line 3 b-3 b of FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 a is a cut away side view of a tooth showing a second cannula andfluid delivery tube.

FIG. 4 b is an expanded view taken along line 4 b-4 b of FIG. 4 a

FIG. 5 is a cut away side view of a tooth showing an alternateembodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 a.

FIGS. 6 a-6 e show alternates embodiments of the side vent used bymicrocannula 41.

FIG. 7 shows a finger piece for use with the invention.

FIG. 8 shows how the finger piece of FIG. 7 is used.

FIG. 9 shows a master delivery tip with syringe for use with theinvention.

FIG. 10 shows how the master delivery tip of FIG. 9 is used.

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b show the detail of a macro cannula or cannula foruse with the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a handle which may be used to hold the macro cannula shownin FIGS. 11 a-11 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a cutaway portion of a human tooth 11 as it mayappear after a portion of a root canal procedure has been completed,namely wherein as much of the pulp material as is possible has beenremoved by instrumentation. The tooth 11 includes a crown portion 13which is generally the exterior portion extending past gums 15. Theinterior portion of the tooth extending past the other side of gums 15is referred to as the root 17. In approximately the middle of the rootextending almost the entire length of the root is the root canal 19which extends from one end 21 near the crown portion of the tooth to anapex 23 at the tip of root 17. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-visibleportion of tooth 11 extending past gums 15 is surrounded by periapicaltissue 25.

Of course, prior to the initiation of the root canal procedure, theapical foramen 27 located at or very near the root apex 23 is the onlyopening into the root canal.

After the instrumentation phase of the root canal procedure has beencompleted, there is a large quantity, both in terms of size and amount,of debris within the root canal.

According to the present invention, after the instrumentation step,cleansing of the root canal is performed in two phases. The first phaseis referred to as gross evacuation of the coronal portion of the rootcanal which is the portion of the root canal 19 beginning approximately4-5 mm from apex 23. The second phase is referred to as apicalevacuation for cleaning the final 4-5 mm of the root canal.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a, the methods and apparatus used for the grossevacuation of the coronal portion of the root canal will now beexplained. A cannula 31 is inserted into the canal to a point 33approximately 4-5 mm from the apex as seen in FIG. 3 b. A suitablecannula for this purpose is a soft plastic cannula such as part numberUP0341 available from Ultradent Products, Incorporated located in SouthJordan, Utah. Of course, any comparable device may be used for thispurpose. A vacuum is applied to the cannula as is well known in the artwhich results in debris being sucked up into the cannula. Specifics of asuitable delivery tube 35 and vacuum system are well known to personsskilled in the art.

A fluid delivery tube 35 is placed at the top of the coronal opening ofthe root canal at end 21 as shown in FIG. 3 a and the desired irrigantis supplied by fluid delivery tube 35. A suction exists at point 33 ofthe cannula by virtue of an opening in the end of the tube adjacent topoint 33 and the applied vacuum which results in the irrigant andremaining debris being drawn to the hole in the end of cannula at point33. This irrigation and suction results in a nearly complete cleaning ofthe upper portion of the canal, i.e., the portion extending from the tipof the cannula at point 33 through the entire length of the canal to end21. This occurs because as the irrigant is delivered via the deliverytube, the irrigant fills the root canal space combines with the debrisand together are sucked down the root canal by virtue of the vacuumcreated at the end of delivery tube at point 33 and then up throughcannula 31 by virtue of the vacuum created. This step normally takesseveral minutes to complete depending on the size of the root canalspace. For example upper canine teeth have larger root canal spaces thanlower incisors and require a longer initial irrigation. At the end ofthis phase the irrigant will be clear and devoid of gas bubbles formedby the dissolving necrotic tissue as well as particulate matterremaining from instrumentation.

It should be noted that although some irrigant may go past end 33, the4-5 mm distance from apex 23 is sufficient to prevent any irrigant fromreaching periapical tissue 25.

The gross evacuation of the canal debris in the upper portion of theroot canal is critical to the proper completion of phase two since amuch smaller tube is used to evacuate the apical portion, i.e., thebottom 4-5 mm of the root canal. This is because the debris in the upperportion of the root canal, prior to the evacuation performed by phaseone, includes particles of a size which would clog the smaller openingof the microcannula which is inserted into the apical portion of theroot canal.

Phase two of the procedure will now be described with references toFIGS. 4 a and 4 b. In phase two, a microcannula 41 is inserted into theroot canal extending to the apex 23 as best seen in FIG. 4 b.Microcannula 41 is typically made of a metallic material such asstainless steel or titanium and in one embodiment, has an outsidediameter of 0.014 inches. Its tip 43 is welded shut and rounded andincludes a side vent approximately 0.75 mm long beginning at a pointapproximately 0.5 mm from the end of tip 43.

Of course, the foregoing dimensions and materials are provided by way ofexample of a specific embodiment. What is important is that microcannula41 be sized so as to be able to fit into the canal so that it extendssubstantially completely to apex 23 with side vent 45 extending as closeto the end of the root as possible but without extending into theperiapical tissue. Further, microcannula 41 should be sized so thatthere is close contact between the root canal wall in the apical portionand the microcannula. This is to ensure that some of the irrigant isdrawn to the end of microcannula 41 by capillary action.

As was the case in phase one, irrigant is delivered via delivery tube 35and a vacuum is applied to microcannula 41. In this manner, irrigant isdrawn down into the root canal and into the apical portion of the rootcanal, that is, the bottom approximately 4-5 mm portion of the canalending at apex 43. Since tip 43 is closed, irrigant is drawn into vent45 and does not extend past tip 43 and cannot be drawn into apicaltissue 25 due to the vacuum which exists at vent 45. By this technique,the irrigant flushes the apical portion of the root canal, removing outany remnants of debris which still exist in a manner which does notallow the irrigant to enter the periapical tissue.

Additionally, and importantly, in the event microcannula 41 isaccidentally forced into the periapical tissue, the side vent willbecome obstructed by the tissue and the vacuum which exists in the rootcanal ceases to exist. Since the irrigant in the canal is not underpressure, the irrigant will cease to be withdrawn by microcannula 41indicating to the practitioner that the microcannula has extended toofar and needs to be withdrawn back into the root canal space slightly,up to the point when the side vent is not in the periapical tissue atwhich point the irrigant again begins to be withdrawn.

In an alternate embodiment, and referring now the FIG. 5, instead ofdelivering irrigant via delivery tube 35 and applying a vacuum tomicrocannula 41, the irrigant may be supplied via the microcannula. Inthis embodiment, a vacuum is applied via a tube 51 which is insertedpartway down the root canal. Tube 51 and microcannula 41 pass through amaterial created by a standard dental filling material of a compositenature (like the material used in white dental fillings) or alternatelya standard dental impression material usually made of a silicone naturewhich provides a seal at a position near the top of the coronal opening.The irrigant is supplied in a manner sufficient to ensure delivery tothe side vent 45 of the microcannula. The vacuum at the end of tube 51draws the irrigant and debris up from the apex of the root canal intothe tube.

In this alternate embodiment, the flow of the irrigant may be reversedfrom apex to crown by placing the microcannula adjacent to the apex,installing a vacuum tube into the canal near the coronal portion andsealing the canal coronally such that both and microcannula and vacuumtube are below the seal, with the vacuum tube being positioned morecoronally. As a vacuum is applied to the coronal tube, irrigant isallowed to be drawn into the canal via the microcannula, then up thewalls into the vacuum tube.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 a-6 e, side vent 45 instead of having agenerally oblong shape as shown in FIG. 4 b, may have a plurality ofmore round holes as shown in FIGS. 6 b and 6 c, a diagonal slit as shownin FIG. 6 d or a U shaped slit as shown in FIG. 6 e, or any other shape.In the FIG. 6 b embodiment, the holes actually extend around thecircumference of the microcannula. The diameter of the microcannula is0.318 mm and the distance between the tip of the microcannula and thebottom of the hole nearest the tip is 0.22 mm. In one embodiment, theopening should not extend more than approximately 0.75 mm from theclosed spherical tip of the microcannula, must be burr free and theopening must be smaller than the internal diameter of the microcannulato block any particles which clog the microcannula. The reasons theopenings must be burr free is that the space where the microcannula isinserted is extremely restricted, and any burr extending from theopening is likely to scrape the dentin from the wall of the root canaland the resulting debris could clog the side vent opening(s). Usually,microcannula 41 is coupled directly to a tube used to provide the vacuumor supply the fluid.

FIG. 7 shows a finger grip handle 71 used to hold microcannula 41 (shownin shadow line). The finger grip handle has an opening 73 into whichmicrocannula 41 is inserted. A second opening 75 arranged 90° fromopening 73 receives a tube (shown in shadow line) which is connected toa device which produces the required vacuum or supplies the requiredfluid. Ridges 79 provide a grip to assist holding the handle between twofingers as shown in FIG. 8. Given the relatively small dimensions ofmicrocannula 41 and the difficulty of maneuvering the microcannulawithin the confines of the mouth to perform the desired procedure,finger grip handle 71 provides extra leverage not available without thehandle. In a preferred embodiment, finger grip handle is made oftitanium. The two openings are sized to so that the microcannula andvacuum or fluid delivery device are held by friction.

FIG. 9 shows a master delivery tip. The delivery tip includes a metaltube 91 set into a molded fixture made of non-reactive plastic likenylon or polypropylene that is inserted on a standard luer lock fitting.The molded fixture holds a flexible plastic tube 93 non-reactive plasticlike PVC over the metal tube, the other end being attached to a vacuumpump (not shown). During clinical use the clinician is able to add afluid into the access cavity preparation of a root canal. When the levelof the fluid being applied tube 91 reaches the top of the access cavitypreparation, the excess is sucked away by a vacuum applied to tube 93rather than spilling into the oral cavity (mouth). This feature allowsthe dentist or dental assistant to maintain a constant level of fluid inthe root canal access cavity and is helpful throughout all aspects ofroot canal preparation including instrumentation and irrigation. FIG. 10shows this operation wherein the fluid being applied is concurrentlysucked away.

FIG. 11 a shows a specific design of a cannula 95 which may be used ascannula 31. A top portion 99 which is 5.0 mm in length has a slighttaper for fitting into an opening in a handle 97 shown in shadow line inFIG. 11 a and in more detail in FIG. 11 b. A middle portion 101 which is7.5 mm in length tapers to an outside dimension of 1 mm. A third portion103 tapers from 1 mm to 0.55 mm at its end. The inside dimension at thisend is 0.36 mm. While it is preferable that there be no flash at the endof the third portion, there is a 5% of inside diameter surface areamaximum flash permitted at this point, since anything larger would serveto trap canal debris.

FIG. 12 shows handle 97 having head 105 sized to fit the top end ofcannula 95 (or microcannula cannula 41 or 31) by friction. Raisedelements 107 provide a finger grip. The opposite end 109 of handle 106is sized to accept a tube from a vacuum unit (not shown).

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An apparatus for irrigating a root canal of a toothhaving a coronal end with an access cavity and an apex end, comprising:at least one body portion; and at least two tubes extending from saidbody portion, one of said tubes comprising a fluid delivery tube fordelivering a fluid into the canal, and the other of said tubescomprising a vacuum tube for connecting to a device for evacuation;wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is adapted to be insertedinto the canal access cavity.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein eachtube comprises an interior bore, and said bores of said fluid deliverytube and said vacuum tube do not communicate with each otherindependently of the canal.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein saidvacuum tube is adapted for positioning over the canal.
 15. The apparatusof any of claim 12 wherein said vacuum tube is adapted to be disposedpartway inside the canal for performing an evacuation of a coronalportion of the root canal.
 16. The apparatus of claims 12 wherein saidvacuum tube is adapted to be fully extended into the canal forperforming an evacuation including the apex portion of the root canal.17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said apparatus is adapted forperforming an evacuation of a coronal portion of the root canal andfollowed by performing an evacuation of the apex portion of the rootcanal
 18. The apparatus claim 12 wherein said vacuum tube comprises amicrocannula.
 19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein both tubes areadapted to be positioned towards the coronal portion of the canal. 20.The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least two tubes comprises asecond vacuum tube surrounding at least a portion of said fluid deliverytube.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein both vacuum tubes areadapted to be connecting to the same device for evacuation.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein said fluid delivery tube comprises apolymeric or a metal tube.
 23. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein saidbody portion and said vacuum tube comprise a polymeric material or ametal.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second vacuum tubecomprises a polymeric material.
 25. The apparatus of claim 19 whereinsaid microcannula comprises an uncovered end that is substantiallyclosed.
 26. An apparatus for use in irrigating a root canal comprising:a cannula; a microcannula; and a handle adapted for couplinginterchangeably to each of said microcannula and cannula used during aroot canal procedure, said handle having a first opening at one endsized to hold each of said microcannula and said cannula by friction anda second opening at a second end arranged approximately 90° from saidfirst opening and sized to hold a fluid delivery tube.
 27. The apparatusof claim 26 further comprising a vacuum tube surrounding at least aportion of said fluid delivery tube.
 28. The apparatus of claim 26wherein said microcannula comprises a tube open at one end and closed ata second end, and adapted to be fitted into and extending substantiallyto the apex of the root canal.
 29. The apparatus of claim 26 whereinsaid microcannula comprises a side vent disposed adjacent the secondend, wherein said side vent comprises a plurality of holes, a generallydiagonal slit or a U shaped slit.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29 whereinsaid side vent is approximately 0.75 mm in length and beginsapproximately 0.22 mm from said second end.
 31. The apparatus of claim27 wherein said cannula or microcannula and said vacuum tube are adaptedfor connecting to the same device for evacuation.
 32. A master deliverytip for delivering a fluid into a root canal having an access cavity,comprising: a body portion; and at least two tubes extending from thebody portion, one of said tubes comprises a fluid delivery tube and theother of said tubes comprises a vacuum tube having one end adapted forcoupling to an apparatus for evacuation; wherein said fluid deliverytube is adapted for delivering a fluid into the access cavity of theroot canal, and the vacuum tube is adapted for suctioning away any fluidabove a certain level of the access cavity.
 33. The master delivery tipof claim 32 wherein said vacuum tube has a second end disposed about andsurrounding at least a portion of said fluid delivery tube.
 34. Themaster delivery tip of claim 32 wherein each tube comprises an interiorbore, and said bores of said fluid delivery tube and said vacuum tube donot communicate with each other independently of the canal.
 35. Themaster delivery tip of claim 32 wherein said vacuum tube is adapted forpositioning over the access cavity of the coronal end of the root canal.